CHAPMANVILLE, W.Va. — Through the first three quarters of Tuesday’s No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown between Capital and Chapmanville, neither team led by more than seven points and both teams had lengthy scoring runs of at least seven points. However, in the fourth quarter the second-ranked Tigers outscored the top-ranked Cougars 22-6 to collect an impressive 63-47 victory.
With the game tied at 41 entering the final frame, Chapmanville scored the first eight points in the fourth and they never looked back.
“We just hung in there,” said Chapmanville head coach Brad Napier. “We had some rough moments and we knew Capital was a great team. They put a lot of pressure on you. We were just able to dig in. We stopped turning the ball over and we executed better in the fourth quarter.
“I think we got sped up a bit early in the first half. We were able to slow down a little bit and execute. We would see the open guys and we were able to get some easy baskets on the back end.”
Chapmanville started each quarter well. They opened the game on a 9-2 run, and then scored the first five points in the second and third quarters. Six Tigers scored at least eight points in a balanced offensive attack.
The Tigers held the Cougars to a season-low point total against an in-class opponent. Tre Tyson (12 points) and David Robinson, Jr. (11 points) were the only players in double figures for Capital (17-4).
“We mixed it up. We played some zone, a lot more zone tonight than what we normally do. We played some 1-3-1 and 2-3. Then we played some man too and just kind of mixed it up.”
Jay Brock led the Tigers (16-3) with 13 points. Dakota Dalton added a dozen and Benji Adkins scored ten points while handling the ball well against pressure and contributing on the defensive end of the floor.
“Benji was solid tonight. He did a lot of the ball handling. We wanted the ball in his hands more tonight than what we normally do. We thought with his size and strength that he could handle the traps a little better.”
In foul trouble for most of the game, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward Keaton Terry scored six of his nine points in the fourth quarter to help the Tigers pull away.
“He is a monster. When we can keep him on the court, he is a difference maker. He kind of took over in the fourth quarter with his ability to rebound and score around the basket.”
Chapmanville has won seven consecutive games and 11 of their last 12.
“We haven’t been voted No. 1 by the coaches or anybody all year. Our guys, that kind of motivated them because we play an extremely tough schedule. Our only loss in-state was to Greater Beckley in that first game. These guys kind of take that personal.”